In the Brown case he certainly could have been charged with armed robbery for his actions in the convenience store; a felony. Is selling loosies a felony in New York?
You are just looking for reasons to bash the cops instead of placing the blame where it belongs - on Garner, a miscreant with a long rap sheet who decided to resist arrest.
And was killed for it. Did the punishment fit the crime?
Oh, and Michael Brown wasn't killed for the robbery - he was killed for attacking officer Wilson, trying to take his gun and then charging him.